COMIC OPERA

Hokitika Guardian, 13 October 1932, Page 3

COMIC OPERA

A good presentation. “MERRIE ENGLAND.” There was a . capital attendance at Princess Theatre last night when the Hokitißa Amateur Operatic Society successfully presenteU Sir Edward German’s comic opera “Merrie England.” The production whs pleasing from every point of view. : , It. was excellently staged, and the bright dresses and attractive scenery with the coloured lights made a very enhancing stage setting. The chorus, was an exceptionally istroijg. one and the konours of the production . was. easily every given brightly , and wth an that was verj;,. refreshing j'mpst., enjoyable; , Their every fipppa^anc.e. was welcome and they assured the success of the production from the opening chorus. The producer was also' very liappy in his selection of the caste, and the

principals all did well, Messrs A. E,

; Perry and J.. Stopforth in the main [ musical roles and Misses Anne Duff, A, Lynn, M. Jones and Mrs A. E. * perry all excelling themselves. Messrs

C. Brooks and B. Bulpin supplied the comedy 'element- and they were very successful, throughout, though on som e occasions the value of their quips were lost to " the audiences. The excellent scenery, the work.of Mi- R. Lynn won general approval, and added considerably to the* general success, while the ■ capital orchestra supplied the overtures and accompaniments 1 in a very enjoyable manner. The whole per-; iormance \Vas full of merit and tlVe producers, Miss Anne Duff and' Mr Wi Lindsay,, deserve the many expressions of approval that were made by the pleased audience.

The particulars of the caste and the other -performers -are as follows-:

Characters:-—-The Earl of Essex. Mr James St-opfotth; Sir Walter R aleigh, Mr A. E. Perry; Walter Wilkins (a player in Shakespeare’s Company) M,r •p: Brooks; Silas Simkins (another player) Mr B. Bulpin; Long Tom, Mr ! O'. Wright"; Biy Ben. Mr T. Stopforth; ;The Quben’s Fool, Mies Hazel Perry; A Butcher, Mr H. Lodge; A Baker, Mr J. Stuart; A Tinker, Mr H. PVes.ton; A. Tailor, Mr .H. Thiele; , First Royal ‘Page, Miss W. Stevenson; Second Royal Page, Miss D. McWhirter; Queen Elizabeth, Miss M. Jones; Mistress Bessie Throckmorton,. ;M»s Anne P. Duff; “Jjll-All-Alone”, Mrs A. E. Perry; The May Queen,. Miss A. Lynn; Kate, Miss 0. Chester:man; Heralds, .Misses C. Lynn and Violet Ross.

1 Chorus:—Misses H. Perry, W. •Stevenson, M. Sumner, T. Sumner, R. Shgnd, M. Hughes, M. Tainui, M. Gooch; >F. Evans; M. Hallidat, M. ’Rowe, M;; Gillmarr; ’MV Sweney', 'T. Sweney, (L Ghesterman, E. Pfahleft, B; Pfahlert, 1 B. Chaplin, Di McWhirter, hj Staines, El Wells, N. 'Brooks, V. -Mufer. and 1 Mrs Lindsay. Messrs -B. Woblhouisbi' J. Bell, C. Williams, K? Aiilfd, Ji' Stuart, A. Sumner, G. O’Brien, M. King, R. Chdsterman, G. Hutchison, H. Thiele, M. DaVid.on, J. Hall;. 0- Reese, H. Lodge,; 'H. 'Preston.*'. 1

Orchestra.—Pianists,' Miss AL Giese; Ist.' Violins, Mrs Knights, Mrs Preston, and Mr Q; I'. Ross; 2nd. violins, Mr P. Goodfellow and Mr J. Sweney; cornets; Mi; L. L. R-oss and- Air D. Christensen; clarionet, Air* E. Moss; ’cello, Air O, Moss; trombones, Mr A. K. Good, and Mr L. S. Ross; drums, etc., Alt Deo. Barltrop. The principal vocal items were as follows.—Act . ,I: —Opening chorus, “Sing a down, a down, -a down’.’ ; Duet, “We are Two Proper Men”, Long Tom and Big Ben; Song, “O where the Deer do Lie”, Jill mid Chorus; Song,. Chorus. and Dance, “I Counsel, that Wir Playtime”, Wilkins; Song and 1 .Chorus, “.‘That every Jack _ should have his Jill”,- Raleigh; Quintet, : “Love is meant to make us. glad”, May Queen,.,Kate, Raleigh, hong Tom, and Wilkins.;. Ballet,' “She had a Letter from her Love”, Bessie; Duet, “AVhen True ; Love hath Found a Man”, Raleigh and Bessie;.Trio and Ranee, ‘‘When a Man is a Lover”, Wilkins,! -Simkins and Essex; Song, “The Yeom©h of England”, Essex and Chorus; Entrance of Elizabeth, “God Gave Elizabeth” ; Song, “O Peaceful England”, Elizabeth with Chorus; Song, “King Neptune Sat on his Lonely Throne”, Wilkins with Chorus; Finale, “It’s a Tale of Robin Hood.” Act ll.—Scene* A Glade in Windsor Forest by Herne’s Oak. Opening Chorus with Solo, “The Alonth O’Miay has Come To-day”, Jill; Trio with Chorus, “Hie Sun in the Heaven is High”, Simkins, the Tailor, and the Butcher; Duet, "The Big Brass Band,” Wilkins and Simpkins; Duet,

■ Tt. 1- the Merry Month of May”, Jill and Raleigh; 'Chorus and Dance, “The Queen of May is Crowned to-day’V Song, "Dan Cupidf hath a Garden”*, Raleigh ; Ensemble; Merry Meii’aAirinking”; Song’, H> who shall ,sjy' 1 hat love is cruet*’', ,soHg, “Perhaps von don’t imagine”, Wilkins and Simkins ; Chorus and Solo, “Oh! here’s a to-do to die to-day”; Finale, “Now who’ll come said Robin Hood.” TO-NTGHT. Tire performance will he repeated to-night, when with the advantage of having had their initial presentation, the opera should agaiii go with a happy swing.